title: Dynamic feedback between phenotype and physiology in sexually selected traits.
abstract: Theory predicts that physiological costs of producing elaborate phenotypes assure the honesty of sexually selected traits. It is generally assumed that these physiological processes drive sexually selected displays. However, a recent study by Safran and colleagues demonstrates that the manipulation of plumage ornaments in barn swallows alters the temporal course of circulating androgens, thus rejecting the scenario of a static, unidirectional relationship between physiology and sexual displays. Instead, these results suggest that dynamic feedbacks between physiological, morphological and behavioural costs underlie the development and maintenance of sexually selected ornaments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, 3060 Valley Life Sciences Building, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA. drubenstein@berkeley.edu
authors.forename: Dustin R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
authors.forename: Mark E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Hauber
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000097:blood*; D000818:Animals; D003345:Corticosterone / Q000097:blood; D005241:Feathers; D025461:Feedback, Physiological; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D046388:Swallows / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D003345:Corticosterone